The tantalising prospect of Peter Mandelson appearing in the Commons to answer questions from MPs was raised last night after backbenchers expressed frustration that, at the time of a looming recession, Westminster's Business Secretary operates from the House of Lords.

At present, the only time MPs get the chance to cross-examine Lord Mandelson is, as in the case of yesterday, at a meeting of the Commons Business Committee. However, this is widely regarded as unsatisfactory - including, it is suspected, by the Secretary of State himself.

Now Peter Luff, the committee chairman, is to approach Harriet Harman, the Commons Leader, to see if Westminster's rules might be changed to allow Lord Mandelson to answer questions about his business, enterprise, and regulatory reform portfolio from the Commons dispatch box.

"We have to take this forward and find a mechanism to enable him to be questioned directly by all members of the House of Commons," Mr Luff told The Herald. "A formal decision will have to be taken on this."

Mike Weir, the SNP MP for Angus, who is a member of the committee, agreed that some way had to be found.

"The UK Government has to look at ways of making Mandelson more answerable to the Commons. There has to be a change in the standing orders to ensure that the relevant minister in the Lords, whether it's Mandelson or someone from another department, is able to be questioned by MPs."

Mr Luff also suggested he would be looking for support from leaders of opposition parties and might even approach Gordon Brown.